Space photography odyssey

Launched in 1990, the Hubble Telescope gives humans a better picture of what lies beyond Earth. As the telescope orbits our planet, its position above the atmosphere allows scientists clearer, undistorted images of solar systems, planets and galaxies. Click on the above photo to view some of the Hubble’s spectacular images.

The Sombrero galaxy, Messier 104 (M104), with its white bulbous core encircled by thick dust lanes. The galaxy got its name because of its resemblance to the Mexican hat. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

Two spiral galaxies pass by each other like majestic ships in the night. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

The large Whirlpool Galaxy (left) is known for its sharply defined spiral arms. Their prominence could be the result of the Whirlpool’s gravitational tug-of-war with its smaller companion galaxy (right). (NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScl), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScl/AURA))

The turbulent pattern created by two plumes of Jupiter on May 11, 2007. The two bright plumes detach in the superimposed small infrared image obtained at the NASA-IRTF facility a month before on April 5, 2007. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

A new red spot appears on Jupiter. (M. Wong and I. de Pater (University of California, Berkeley). Courtesy of NASA.)

Jupiter and Ganymede, taken April 9, 2007 (NASA, ESA, and E. Karkoschka (University of Arizona).)

A very thin section of a supernova remnant caused by a stellar explosion that occurred more than 1,000 years ago. (NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScl/AURA))

Spiral Galaxy NGC 4911 in the Coma Cluster. (NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScl/AURA)